Cashmere v-neck jumpers

[BareSolid]

Anyone know a good source of these? Preferably Scottish cashmere, I know Robert Old makes them but don't know when they might have a sale.

Price, hopefully something around £100 would be good.

 

[AThingForCashmere]

Originally Posted by BareSolid

Anyone know a good source of these? Preferably Scottish cashmere, I know Robert Old makes them but don't know when they might have a sale.

Price, hopefully something around £100 would be good.

If you find any, please share your source. I might submit the following for a sticky to SF and AAAC, because of the number of people who've been asking this same question for the last year or two:

According to the Scottish Cashmere Club (http://www.scottishcashmereclub.com/), Johnston's of Elgin is the last fully vertical mill remaining in all of Scotland. It's the only company that still processes raw cashmere fiber all the way to finished garments. Apparently, all other Scottish companies have either been liquidated, have been assimilated by Dawson Int'l, its subsidiaries or by other companies, or have switched to Chinese-produced yarn, which is much less expensive but also vastly inferior to yarn processed from raw fiber using traditional Scottish methods.

On top of this, the recent experience of myself and others (I heard this same story just today from RJman) is that even Johnston's quality has gone south. The last several Johnston's sweaters I've seen have been thinner and felt much cheaper than traditional two-ply Scottish cashmere sweaters.

This is not to say that some cashmeres are no longer any better than others, only that what most people think of when they think of Scottish cashmere -- soft yet substantial, with a predictable wear pattern that blooms and fills out with age and lasts a lifetime when properly cared for -- is no longer available. Period.

Again, if you do find a source for it please let us know.

 

[Kaplan]

Does anyone know where John Smedley gets their cashmere from and how the quality is?

(From a quick glance at their site I can only see mention of the origins of their wool (Merino fom New Zealand)).

 

[BareSolid]

Do Johnston's of Elgin sell v-neck cashmere? I can't find any on their web site.

 

[fox81]

uniqlo

 

[FIHTies]

Originally Posted by BareSolid

Anyone know a good source of these? Preferably Scottish cashmere, I know Robert Old makes them but don't know when they might have a sale. Price, hopefully something around £100 would be good.
I do have Italian (Colombo Cashmere) v-necks for not quite 100 Pound but not that far off. Available in only two colors at that price and a slim fit. But then you have to factor in shipping and customs...

 

[aj_del]

Originally Posted by FIHTies

I do have Italian (Colombo Cashmere) v-necks for not quite 100 Pound but not that far off.

Available in only two colors at that price and a slim fit.

But then you have to factor in shipping and customs...

Very nice sweaters, great price for Colombo cashmere

 

[Siwash]

Originally Posted by BareSolid

Do Johnston's of Elgin sell v-neck cashmere? I can't find any on their web site.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,...e-For-Men.html

sign up for the deal flyers...I've gotten them for $135 USD

Cheers,

MM

 

[AThingForCashmere]

Originally Posted by BareSolid

Do Johnston's of Elgin sell v-neck cashmere? I can't find any on their web site.

Check STP or Peter Christian's site.

 

[KObalto]

Brooks Brothers has them on sale for $200. You could check their London shop. http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatS...Section_Id=556

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by KObalto

Brooks Brothers has them on sale for $200. You could check their London shop.

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatS...Section_Id=556

BB's prices are MUCH higher in Europe.

As I mentioned to AThing, I haven't found recent Johnstons stuff that impressive when I owned/handled it in person. If you really want it, Sierra Trading Post has some under the Johnstons name and sometimes sells it under the Balmoral or Scots Glen names.

However, recently I've felt that stuff from William Lockie, John Laing or Hawick Cashmere is better. You can try Ben Silver, Maus & Hoffman, Robert Old, classicwardrobe.co.uk, stewartsofstirling or a few others for good quality Scottish cashmere. Even though they may not be vertically integrated like Johnstons (i.e. they are not spinning their own yarn, but knit their own sweaters) their cashmere just feels more substantial.

OP: NB: I CAN'T MAKE ANY PROMISES THAT YOU WILL FIND THESE FOR 100 QUID. If you want quality, you either have to pay for it or look very hard/very long/compromise.

There is a seller on ebay named nekp something who is selling a lot of deadstock Scottish cashmere from Moody's, Hawick and the late Murray Allan. Her stuff might be in your range.

Someone asked about Smedley's cashmere. I don't know where they are getting their yarn from, but Smedley's knits are generally very good quality. I own some of their 100% cashmere knitwear and it feels very good -- the knit is VERY fine, sort of like the thinnest Loro Piana knits. They also are now selling 50% cashmere 50% sea island cotton knits which I assume are to help pad their margins for expensive knitting costs. Those are nice -- I'm wearing one right now -- but I wouldn't pay full price for the mixed knits. A 100% sea island jumper is very nice though.

 

[Kaplan]

Originally Posted by RJman

Someone asked about Smedley's cashmere. I don't know where they are getting their yarn from, but Smedley's knits are generally very good quality. I own some of their 100% cashmere knitwear and it feels very good -- the knit is VERY fine, sort of like the thinnest Loro Piana knits. They also are now selling 50% cashmere 50% sea island cotton knits which I assume are to help pad their margins for expensive knitting costs. Those are nice -- I'm wearing one right now -- but I wouldn't pay full price for the mixed knits. A 100% sea island jumper is very nice though.

Thank you. I have some Smedley wool knits, but none of their cashmere (yet).

Does anyone else know where their cashmere's from?

Btw, for those interested I just received a 20% code for Smedley, valid to 31/12/09: 'DECEMBER'.

 

[TheWraith]

Orvis has some cashmere jumpers last I looked, if memory serves.

 

[I. Gentantithesis]

Near your budget criterion, Kathy's located in Hawick and is most likely better informed about Borders area knitwear than any clothing forum source. Query or peruse her wears @ http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/nekp3640/

Should you increase your budget www.heatherwallace.com (William Lockie)

 

[indesertum]

anybody know where i can get some quality scottish cashmere sweaters that are more slim fit, higher arm holes? all the shops listed at the scottish cashmere club seem really oversized.